Suction-producing apparatus



Dec. 14 .1926. 1,610,774

C. H. HANSON SUCTION PRODUCING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 28. 1924 Patented13st. 14, 19225.

UNITED STAT EST;

1,610,774 P tE-NT F CE,

CLINTON H. HANSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO MGTGR PLiYYERCOR-PGRh- TION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COBYQRATION OF ILLINOIS,

SUCTIONJRODUCING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 231924. Serial No. 752,656.

This invention relates .to suction produc: ing. apparatus.

The general object of my invention is to produce a suction producingdevice which is especially adapted for use in connection with automatic.or. player pianos. to create the necessary vacuum for actuating thehammers, expression devices and other pneuinatically operatedinstrumentalities, commonly. employed with player pianos.

Another object of my invention is to, provide a. device, of thecharacter, indicated which will operatenoiselesslyso as topic vent any.interference withthe proper rendition of the music.

Another object of. my inventionis to. provide an apparatus of the character indicated which is particularly adapted, because of itscompactness and extremely shallow height, for installation in playerpianos of the socalled grandtyp e where very little space is availablefor devices of this character and, more particularly, such a devicewhich has a container conforming to the esthetic requirements of themanufacturers andusers.

A. specific object of my invention is, to provide, in an apparatus ofthe character in dicated, especially efficient means for mountingthesuction unit proper within the container. therefor in such manner thatall mechanical vibrations and consequent noises that would otherwisearise therefrom, are completely dampened or dissipated entirely withinthe container and without being transmitted in any wise to the containerproper, thereby preventing any sounds arising from, or being set up by,the container which would militate against the desired musical effect ofthe player piano.

Another specific ob ect.of my invention is to provide an arrangementwithin the con,- tainer such that the intake conduit for the air beingexhausted from the piano pneu matics can accommodate itselfby flexing toall possible vibratory moveinentsof the suction unit so that nomechanical vibrations and consequent sounds that would be gen? eratedthereby, can be transmitted through saidconduit to the eXteriorofthecontainer, or to the container itself.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide novelsound-insulating means, for the container, including an arrangementwhereby the fluid drawn through the suction unit, enters the same atonepoint, is dis charged at another point, and thence travels inatortuous path through the container before emergence therefrom,sounchdamping or insulating means being provided throughout suchpassages for deadening or absorbing the sound waves, thereby offering anincreased area of soundinsulated surfaces over which the sound wavesmustltravel before their exit from the container.

Other and further objects of myinvention will more fully and clearlyappear from the description and claims hereinafter, follow- In thedrawing, Figure 1 illustrates a top plan View of the invention with thecover of the container removedto clearly illustrate the disposition ofthe variouslparts of the suction unit. Figure 2 is a longitudinal,vertical, part sectional View on the line 2 2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is atransverse, sectional view of the invention on the line 3 3 of Figure 2,and Figure tis an enlarged, detail view of a cushioningniember used inconnection with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a sound-proof container, B thesuction, unit comprising the usual motor and fan, and C the flexiblesuction conduit connected to the suction unit and extending exteriorlyof the container. i V

The container A preferably includesa box-like receptacle Which ispreferably of Wood, although the same may be of any other suitablematerial. Such receptacle preferably comprises a bottom wall. 5, sidewalls 6, and end walls 7 and 8.. The top innor edges of the end walls 7and S are preferably providedwith spaced recesses Sand 10, each of whichis shaped and arranged to snugly accommodate a cushioning member llofthe type illustratedinFigure 4. Each of the cushioning members 11 ispreferably in the form of .a rubber pad provided with a recess. 12extending front the'top to a point adjacent the bottom, the bottom ofsuchrecess being preferablyv rounded as indicated at 18, and therecessisfof such depth as to leave a rear walll-i of substantial thick ness.

The means for supporting the suction unit B in the receptacle preferablycomprises metal rods 15, the opposite ends of eachof which fit snuglyinto the recesses 12 of 'the cushioning members 11,th'e cushioningme1nhere turn, of course, restingnpon the wane Jun ill

. provided by the recesses 9 and 10. Each rod is preferably provided atspaced points with grooves 16, each of which is arranged to receive alooped portion of one end of a coil spring 17. The opposite ends of thesprings 17 are secured to ears 18 formed on the suction unit, and itwill be noted that the springs resiliently suspend the suction. unit Bfrom the rods 15, so that vibration of the apparatus incident to itsoperation is absorbed by such springs It should also be observed thatthe supporting rods are themselves supported on the cushions 11,permitting slight cushioned lateral and longitudinal movement of therods 15 should any occur, so as to still further absorb all mechanicalvibrations set up by the operation of the suction unit.

The suction unit B comprises any suitable, high speed motor 19, theoutlines only of which are indicated in the drawings. such motor havingelectric wires 19 connected therewith and extending outwardly beneath aremovable block 20, disposed in a suitable recess in the end wall 7 ofthe receptacle, such block being adjustably pressed against said wiresby means of a screw 21 as shown. Connected to such motor is a hollowinlet or vacuum chamber member 20, secured at one end thereof bysuitable fastening means, such as bolts 21, the chamber member 20 beingprovided with a reduced portion 22 having a nipple 23 formed thereon. Asectional housing 24 is secured to the other end of the motor 19 by anysuitable means, such housing being provided with spring controlled flapvalves 25 to provide openings for the fluid drawn through the motor, andsuch housing encloses a multi-stage fan, the motor of which is indicatedconventionally at 26, connect-ed to the armature shaft 27 of the motor.

The suction conduit C is of flexible mate rial comprising a portion 28extending substantially parallel to the suction unit, and a curvedportion 29 connected to the nipple 23 on the vacuum chamber member 20.as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. The portion 28 of theconduit C is connected to a. short length of pipe 30 which is secured inthe end wall 7 of the receptacle. such pipe 30 being fitted snugly insuch end wall and held in position by a suitable bracket 31. Theexterior portion 32 of such pipe is connected to a conduit which extendsto the musical instrument, not shown, in a well-known manner. It shouldbe noted that by reason of the disposition of the conduit 0, lateralmovements or vibrations of the suction unit in all directions arepermitted by lateral flexing of the portion 28 of the conduit. andlateral flexing of the curved portion 29 of such conduit, whereaslongitudinal vibrations of the suction unit in all directions are alsopermitted by similar flexing of the condnit. In other words, theuniversal move ment or vibration of the suction unit is pernitted by theuniversal flexible movement of the suction conduit C without injury totlhe conduit, or the communication of the vibra tions of the suctionunit to the container.

While I have shown the conduit C as composed of a single section offlexible mate rial, nevertheless it will be understood by those skilledin the art that the same eflicient results can be obtained with otherconstructions, the important feature residing in the fact that there areat least two portions of the conduit, considered as an entirety, whichextend at angles to each other and therefore permit of flexibility bothvertically and horizontally, or a combination thereof without thepossibility of transmitting mechanical vibrations and accompanyingnoises through such conduit to the container or exteriorly thereof.

The lateral swinging of the suction unit is limited by the adjacent sidewall 6, and by upstanding posts 38 which are preferably disposed betweenthe suction unit and the flexible conduit C as shown in Figure 8, eachof such posts having a base portion 34 resting on top of the bottomlayer of felt 37 and secured to the bottom wall 5 of the container A byscrews 35 or other suitable fastening means. Each of the posts33 iscovered with a thick layer 36 of sound-insulating material for thepurpose of preventing noise due to striking of the suction unit againstthe posts during operation of the suction unit, or when the suctionapparatus is being handled.

The bottom wall 5 of the receptacle is provided with a relatively thicklayer of soundinsulating material 37, preferably felt, and the sidewalls 6. and the end wall 7. are provided with similar layers 39. ofsound-insulating material, the layers 38 of the material. extendingupwardly to points closely adjacent to the edges of the side walls 6 andend wall I as indicated at 33 The end wall 8 of the receptacle hassecured adjacent its upper edge, preferably at a height slightly abovethe bottom walls of the recesses 10 in the wall 8 of. the casing. asupporting \X'Qlfi 10 extending inwardly from the wa l 8 in a horizontaldirection for a suitable distance. and formed on the inner end of suchweb is: a downwardly projectirn ballle .llll or partition 41 whichextends transversely across the container A, and has its lower endspaced a relatively small distance from the layer 37 of the insulatingmaterial on the bottom wall 5 of the container. Such web 4.0 and partition 4-1 are covered on all sides with soundinsulating material,preferably felt. A sep arate, oppositely disposed, upstanding battlewall or partition 43 is disposed between the end wall 8 and the bafllewall 11, and has its lower end tightly fitting against the layer 36 innotiinsiilating material on the bottom Wall ot' the container, and itsupper end-4A spaced a relatively short distance fronrthe under surfaceof the \vebf lO, thepartltion 43 e':& tending transversely across thecontainer and having its end portions curved inwardly as shown at 45 andsecured to the endwall 8 of the-receptacle. "The palrtition 43-is'alsoentirely covered with sound-insulating material, pre feably 'i elt. Theend Wall'S is provided \vith'a plurality of openings 46,

-.-and on the inner surface of such end Wall is disposed alayer o't'sound-insulating material 47 which substantially entirely covers saidall exceptovertheopenings d6. On theouter SIClG'Of the wall 8 isprovided a resilient plate48 secured'itothe Wall 8 by asuitablescreiv-el), there beingra spacing mem- "her 50 interposedbetween the plate 458 and the outer-surface of the Wall28, as clearly"the Walls of'the container, and of-a thickness as to bear snuglyagainst the top edges of 'the-layers'SS o'l' insulating materral onthesidewalls 5,-'end Wall? and Web lOWhen the cover is secured'inpositiomthereby pressing against the upper surfaces of supporting rods'15, and clampin'g the electriewires 19 between the layer 54':ofinsulating material on the cover 52 andth'e no ie'r ed' 'es o'f-theinsulating material 38 upon the end 'Wall 7, the block 20 servingalso-topress-the wires against the upper edges of "the insulating uaterial 3S.

hen the suetion'unit' is operated the fans QG-are rapidly rotatedby themotor. causing a suction in the unit, and due to the operationotthemotora-nd fan, considerable vibration 1S normally setup, which vibrationis absorbed by the supporting coil springs 17, by the-combined swingingand yielding properties-or said springs, sothatsuch v1- brations otthesuction unit are nottransmi'tted to thesupportingrods 15., and evenifsuch vibrations reach the supporting rods, 1t 'Wlll be appreciated thatthey are greatlylessened in power, and any vibration set up in the rods15 is absorbed by the rods themselves which are flexible andthe'cushioning members 11 in which the rods are mounted. It is thusapparent'that all of the mechanical vibrations clue to the -'operationof the sucsorbed' Within the container.

tion 'unit'are 'eliectually dampened 01' absorhedso that none of thesame reach the walls ofthe container A "and hence no 'syn'n patheticvibrations are setupin such eontainer.

The soundWVavessetup by operation of "the'suction unit areabsorbed on'all sides by the thick layers of sounil-lnsnlating materlal,

and the fluid exhausted from thesuction unit "Which probably conducts alarge ppr- "non of the sound Waves, is'enhausteil' at the closed end ofthe container-andthence travels'ito'wajrd the other end"otthe'container,

bcingdetle'ctetl by the partition ll'and comp elie'd to travel heneathsuch partition,

the'n'ce upwardly between the partitions ll and l3fand'down'w'vardlybetween thepartitron 43andtl'1e'layer l! ofinsulatmginaterial onthe end-Wall 8. The air then passes out throughtheseries of openings [4:61, Where it is again interceptedor fretardedbythe soundfabsorbing' pads 51 Which are, yieldinglyhld overtheop'enings-bytlre 15late4t8. Fromthe preceding description, it \villbeseen that,'by dischargingthe air atthe 'le i't hand end'o'f'thesuctionunit asviewed in "Figure 1, and then requiring that air to finallypassout at the-opposite end ort'the container. I -provide themaximuinpossible area! of sound-absorbing surfaces for that alr to 'come'in"contact Within its travel s'othat the noise is,-as has been demonstratedinactual practice, completely eliminated r ab- Stat'ed in anothermanner, the entire interior"surface-area of the container is providedwith sound-ab "s'orbi'ng material so that the sounds "carried by the 2111 are "most eifeenvely dampened or "absorbed and this, in combinationwith the mounting of "the'su'ction unit seats to F prevent transmissionof an mechanical Wihr ati'ons to the container, provides a more lierfectly noiseless apparatus for the purpose indicated, than anyheretofore Another um'port-an't feature of my 1111- *provements residesin the particular method of suspending the suction unit within thecontainer. Upon removing the cover of th e "COIltfllllBI, it is evidentthat the entire suctionunit can be bodily lifted out' by grasping therods 15, after-the conduitC hasbeen tlisconnected from the nipple 2B,the Wire retaining block 2O removed. This is of greatimportance both inassembling the parts and in ta'cilitati'np; the oiling or inspection ofthe apparatus after it is in service and it will be noted that "no partis destroyed insuch removal of the unit, and the parts may be re-placedWithout the aid of any tools or-p-artic'u'lar experience *on thepartof-the user. Further. when the suction unit is removed from thecontainer, by simply disconnecting the suspension springs 17 from therods 15, the suction nnit "can be handled with the greatestfacilityeither for iill ticularly advantageous for use in grand pianos where thespace available for apparatus of this kind is very definitely limited.Furthermore, as will be evident from an inspection of the drawings,while the suction unit may move in any direction either vertically,laterally or longitudinally, nevertheless there are provided cushionedsurfaces against which the suction unit will come in contact with,regardless of the position in which the apparatus may be placed inshipment or in handling, thereby preventing any injury to the partswhile at the same time confining such possible movement to relativelysmall, predetermined limits.

While I have herein shown and described what I now consider thepreferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merelyillustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications that comewithin the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a suction apparatus of the character described, the combinationwith a container, of a suction producing unit disposed within saidcontainer, a flexible tube for conducting air from the exterior of thecontainer to the interior of said unit, flexible vibration insulatingmeans for suspending said unit within the container, the air after beingacted upon by said unit being delivered therefrom under pressure intothe space surrounding said unit and tube.

2. In a suction apparatus of the character described, th combinationwith a container embodying a box-like member open at the top, saidcontainer having spaced recesses opening upwardly adjacent the upper endthereof, supports mounted in said recesses, a suction producing unitcarried by said supports, and a cover providing a closure for saidcontainer.

3. In a suction apparatus of the class described, the combination with acontainer; of a suction producing unit therein; means carried by saidcontainer and arranged to support said unit for universal vibratorymovement;'and a suction conduit extending through the container andconnected to said unit and flexibly partaking of the movements thereof.

4. In a suction apparatus of the class described, the combination with acontainer; of a suction producing unit; means carried by said containerand arranged to support said unit for vibratory movements; and aflexible conduit connected to said suction unit, said conduit beingprovided with a bend within said container to permit flexing of saidconduit in consonance with the movement of said suction unit.

5. In a suction apparatus of the class described, the combination with acontainer; of a suction producing unit disposed in said container; ofmeans arranged to support said unit for vibratory movements; and aflexible conduit-within said container and having a portion curved abouta portion of said suction producing unit.

6. In a suction apparatus of the class clescribed, the combination witha container comprising a receptacle having its walls provided withlayers of sound-insulating material; cushioning members supported by thewalls of said receptacle; supporting elements mounted in said cushioningmembers in such manner that the unit may be moved universally witlreference to the elements; a suction producing unit carried by saidelements, said unit including a motor; electric wires connected to saidmotor and extending exteriorly of said receptacle; and a cover for saidreceptacle having a layer of sound-insulating material secured theretoand arranged to fit within the walls of said receptacle and bear againstsaid electric wires.

7. In a suction apparatus of the class described, the combination with asound-insulated container; of a receptacle having its walls providedwith layers of sound-insulating material; cushioning members supportedby the walls of said receptacle; supporting elements mounted in saidcushioning members; a suction producing unit disposed in saidreceptacle; yieldable means mounted on said supporting elements andarranged to permit universal movement of said suction producing unitwith reference to the container and prevent transference of anyvibrations to the container; and a cover for said receptacle having alayer of sound-in sulating material secured thereto and arranged to fit.within the walls of said receptacle.

8. In a suction apparatus, the combination. with a sound-insulatedcontainer having openings at one portion thereof; of a suction producingunit disposed in said container; a plurality of yieldable meansswingably supported in said container and arranged to carry said suctionunit; a flex-- ible conduit providing communication be tween theexterior of the container and the interior of the unit, and baflle wallsarranged adjacent said openings.

9. In a suction apparatus of the class described, the combination with asound-insulated container having openings at one por tion thereof; of asuction producing unit disposed in said containergswi-ngably mounted,:yieldab-le.ineanssupported by said con-- tainer and arranged to carrysaid suction unit; a flexible conuuit communicating with the exterior.of said container. andhaving a portion withinsaid container providedwith a bend; and sound-insulated batll'e'walls arranged adjacent theopenings in said container.

10. In a suction apparatus of the character described, the combinationwith a container comprising a receptacle having its walls provided withlayers of sound-insulating material, said receptacle having a portionprovided with openings cushioning members supported by the walls of saidreceptacle; supporting elements mounted in said cushioning members; asuction producing unit disposed in. said receptacle; yieldable meansswingably connected to said support and ca 'rying the said suction unit;an in wardly disposed extension upon said receptacle having a dependingprojection providing sound-insulated battle wall; an oppositely disposedbafile wall spaced from said first wall and the wall of said containeradjacent said openings; and a cover for said receptaclehaving a layer ofsound-insulating material secured thereto, and arranged to it within thewalls of said receptacle.

ll In a. suction apparatus of the class described, the combination witha container comprising a receptacle having its walls provided withlayers of sound-insulating material, said receptacle having a portionprovided with openings; cushioning meinbers supported by the walls ofsaid receptacle; supporting elements mounted on said cushioning members;a suction producing unit disposed in said receptacle; yieldable meanssivingably connected to said supporting elements and carrying saidsuction unit; sound-insulated baflle means disposed adjacent saidopenings; and a cover for said receptacle having sound-insulatingmaterial secured thereto arranged to fit within the walls or saidreceptacle.

12. In a suction producing apparatus of the class described, thecombination with a container, of a suction producing unit disposed insaid container and yielding means sivingably supported by the containerand arranged to carry the suction unit, rigidly supported pads ofresilient material normally slightly spaced from the suction unit andallowing limited movement of the suction unit in any direction.

13. In a suction producing apparatus, the combination with a container,a suction producing unit therein, means carried by the container andarranged to support said unit for a universal vibratory movement,resilient pads arranged within the container and rigidly carried closelyadjacent to the unit and normally spaced therefrom and acting to limitthe swinging movement within the container.

14; In asuction apparatus with a conunit mounted therein, a resilientmeans for supportin g a suction producingunit normal ly out of contactwith said walls, and means tainerhaving rigid walls, a suction producingincludingpadson the walls for limiting swingingimovement of thecontainer in any direction during handling .or transporting of thecontainer with the unit therein.

15. In a suction apparatus of the class deembed, the combination ot aboxlilre' container having top, bottom, side and end walls, a suctionproducing unit fth'erein; means carried by the container and arranged tosupport said unit for universal"vibratory movement, the top, bottom andend Walls being spaced slightly away from-the unit when so supported,-aflexib lesuction con duit connected to the unit, and leading to one ofthe walls and rigid stop meinbe'rs'having resilient means thereonservingto limit lat eral swinging movement, said stoprmemhers being positionedbetween and awaytainer whereby air flowing from the unit is reversedwith respect to the general direction 0t flow through the unit and movesover substantially the entire outer surface of said unit, and a flexibleair inlet conduit extending through one of the walls of the containerand connected to the unit.

17. In combination, a container, a suction producing unit therein, saidunit having an air inlet in one end and an air outlet in the other end,means for so positioning the unit within the container that a passagewayis provided for air to flow from the unit and in a reverse direction tothe general direction of air flow through the unit, whereby the airexhausted from the unit is caused to move along the outer surface of theunit, said container having an opening through whichair flowing from theunit may be discharged, and a flexible tubular air conduit extendingthrough the container and operanow from the conduit and unit when theappatively connected to the inlet end of said unit.

19. In a suction apparatus of the character described, the combinationwith a container embodying a box-like member open at the top and havinga plurality of spaced recesses opening upwardly adjacent the upperportion thereof, spaced rods resting in said recesses, a suctionproducing unit within the container, yieldable means connecting the unitwith the rods in such manner that the unit is held in spacedrelationship to the walls of the container, and a cover for thecontainer, said cover having a layer of noninsulating material on theinner side thereof engaging the rods for holding them in adjustedrelationship to the container.

20. In a suction producing apparatus of the character cescribed, thecombination with a container comprising a box-like section open on oneside thereof and a closure therefor; a device insertable and removablethrough the open side of said section and supported by the latter whenin place; a suction producing unit adapted to be like wise inserted andremoved through said open side of the container; and means forsuspending said unit from said device whereby said device, means andunit may be simultaneously inserted within and removed from the saidbox-like section when the cover is removed.

21. In a suction producing apparatus of the character described, thecombination with an elongated container having an air direction on theinterior thereof, and in the opposite direction lengthwise thereof onthe exterior, thereby absorbing the maximum amount of heat from theinterior and exterior of said unit in its passage into and out of thecontainer.

In asu'ction producing apparatus the combination w'th a container of asuction producing unit therein having motor and fan elements, therebeing an air inlet conduit eading from the exterior of the container tothe interior of the unit, and the direction of air liow being such thatthe air is caused to pass in two directions across the motor, onedirection being within the unit and the other direction being outsidethe unit.

in witness that 1 claim the foregoing l have hereunto subscribed my namethis 8th day or h ovember, 1924:.

CLINTON H. HANSON.

